Overview
- Video posted to Strickland’s Instagram and shared widely shows him pressuring a hesitant friend to jump from a Nevada cliff before the friend began struggling in deep, cold water.
- The friend lost the ability to swim after reporting a shock from the icy water, which he said left him unable to breathe until Strickland jumped in and pulled him to safety.
- No physical injuries were reported following the rescue and the clip has been circulated by multiple outlets and social accounts since Thursday.
- Strickland later commented on the post saying he had warned he would leave the friend behind and quipped that he had “helped him become a man for a moment,” drawing attention to issues of consent and rough encouragement in the footage.
- Coverage links the episode to Strickland’s current public profile as a two-time UFC middleweight champion who is recovering from a shoulder injury and has hinted at potential challengers for his next title defense.